Fish-plate for railways.



. BELK.

FISH FOR RAILW APPLIOATIOH 211 31) APR.17,

927,932. Patented July 13, 1909.

JOHN ALGEN BELK, OF FEILDING, NEW ZEALAND.

FISH-PLATE FOR RAILWAYS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed April 17, 1909.

Patented July 13, 1909.

Serial No. 490,590.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, J OHN ALGEN BELK, subject of the King of Great Britain, residing at Feilding, New Zealand, have invented a new and useful Improved Fish-Plate for Railways; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same.

This invention relates to an improvement in the fish plates used in railway construction. These, as hitherto formed, consist of a length of metal plate that is bolted to the sides of the rail ends and extends across the joints. These plates get worn along their top edges by the wheels of the train running over them, with the consequence that they are caused to rattle. It is the custom to compensate for such wear by driving strips of iron in between the top of the plates and the rail heads.

The presentinvention has been designed in. order to do away with the use of these strips, and to provide for the plate being quickly tightened against rattling when required.

In carrying out the invention, the fish plate is formed in two longitudinal portions, dovetailed together so as to be capable of sliding. The top portion is formed of narrow wedge shape longitudinally, so that when it wears, it may be tightened again by giving it a blow or two on one end with a hammer. The bottom portion alone is bolted to the rails.

Any two of the adjacent faces of the dovetailed joint may be formed with teeth or serrations, or suitably roughened in such a manner as to allow the wedge portion being driven in one direction, but to prevent any back slip.

In the accompanying drawings,-Figure 1 is a side elevation of a rail joint with the improved fish plate in position thereon. Fig. 2 is an end elevation of the same. Fig. 3 is a back elevation of portion of the lower part of the fish plate.

The fish plate according to this invention, is formed of the two longitudinal portions A and B, such two portions being dovetailed together as shown in Fig. 2, so that one shall be made capable of sliding upon the other. The lower portion 13, constitutes the fish plate proper, and is secured across the rail joint by the bolts C, in the usual manner. Its upper edge is made with a slight incline toward one end, and the lower edge of the upper portion A is correspondingly inclined. This upper portion thus constitutes a wedge capable of sliding upon the lower portion, and of being jammed between the lower portion, and the underside of the rail head. Any looseness may thus be prevented by tightening the upper wedge portion when required, by driving it longitudinally from its larger end.

The adjacent faces of the joint between the two portions A and I3 are preferably formed with small teeth or serrations a and b, thereon, such teeth being so shaped as to allow of the upper portion being tightened but to prevent any backward slip or movement.

The form of dovetail joint between the two portions A and B may be of any approved design that will serve to prevent the upper wedge portion moving away from the rail side. In the drawings, it is shown as being a single dovetail or overlap.

What I do claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is,

1. A railway fish plate formed longitudinally of two portions fitted together one above the other with a dovetailed or overlapping slidingjoint, the lower portion being adapted to be secured to the railswhile the upper portion is shaped as a wedge, substantially as specified.

2. A railway fish plate formed longitudinally of two portions fitted together one above the other with a dovetailed or overlapping sliding joint, and with the adjacent faces of such joint formed with serrations or projections thereon, the upper portion of the plate being also shaped longitudinally as a wedge, while the lower portion is adapted to be secured to the rails, substantially as specified.

In testimony whereof I have signed this specification in the presence of two subscribmg witnesses.

JOHN ALGEN BELK. Witnesses:

F. J. OAKLEY, M. WALDEGRAVE. 

